Chapter 85

Evelyn Laurent clenched her fists on the bench outside the laboratory.

The humiliating memory of Professor Benjamin Klein ejecting her from the lab still burned fresh.

"Don't set foot in this lab again without my permission."

His words stabbed through her heart like daggers.

She stared at the sealed laboratory door, her eyes tinged red.

No matter how meticulously she'd performed every experiment, the rejection remained inexplicable.

Her phone buzzed, interrupting the spiral of thoughts.

A campus anniversary notification flashed from the Physics Department freshman group chat.

Evelyn dismissed it with one glance.

Festivities held no appeal compared to the precision instruments now denied to her.

Her fingers flew across the screen, accessing the philanthropy website with practiced ease.

One million dollars transferred in seconds.

This ritual had become habit since rejoining the Langley family.

Silk gowns and lavish meals couldn't erase memories of hunger pangs.

The electronic chime confirmed the transaction.

Tucking away her phone, she gazed at the indifferent sky.

Without lab access, only lectures and family obligations remained.

Victoria Langley reveled in this forced domesticity.

"Evelyn darling, join me for afternoon tea?"

"This couture gown was made for you."

"Evelyn..."

She endured her mother's effusions with quiet compliance.

Her quick study of aristocratic graces left no trace of rural upbringing.

Meanwhile, Professor Ethan Sullivan's lectures grew increasingly popular at Harvard.

Sophia Lowell, as class representative, seized every pretext to approach him.

"Professor, I'm struggling with this concept..."

In his office, she clutched her notebook with hopeful eyes.

Ethan's gaze flickered with concealed distaste before settling into academic cordiality.

"Which part troubles you?"

His long fingers tapped the desk absently.

Through the window, his attention drifted to Evelyn walking alone beneath the elms.